U.S. patent application number 11/119862 was filed with the patent office on 2006-11-02 for oven and associated floor construction.
Invention is credited to Paula Schmitz.
Application Number | 20060243266 11/119862 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36942373 |
Filed Date | 2006-11-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060243266 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schmitz; Paula |
November 2, 2006 |
Oven and associated floor construction
Abstract
An oven construction includes a floor construction for the
baking chamber.
Inventors: |
Schmitz; Paula; (Edgewood,
WA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THOMPSON HINE LLP
P.O Box 8801
DAYTON
OH
45401-8801
US
|
Family ID: |
36942373 |
Appl. No.: |
11/119862 |
Filed: |
May 2, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
126/19R |
Current CPC
Class: |
A21B 3/04 20130101; A21B
1/26 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
126/019.00R |
International
Class: |
F24C 15/00 20060101
F24C015/00 |
Claims
1. An oven installed at a baking site, the oven comprising: a
baking chamber defined by at least first and second walls; a door
frame defining an opening to the baking chamber; a first baking
chamber floor panel; a second baking chamber floor panel partially
overlapping a portion of the first floor panel to form an overlap
region between the first and second floor panels; and a threshold
member located at the opening and extending between opposite sides
of the door frame, the threshold member overlapping an edge portion
of at least one of the second floor panel and the first floor
panel.
2. The oven of claim 1, wherein the threshold member includes a
bottom plate and a first constraining member extending beyond an
edge of the bottom plate and over the edge portion.
3. The oven of claim 2, wherein the first constraining member
overlaps both the first floor panel and the second floor panel at a
location aligned with the overlap region.
4. The oven of claim 2, wherein the threshold member includes a
second constraining member extending beyond the edge of the bottom
plate and over the first floor panel.
5. The oven of claim 4, wherein the threshold member includes a
third constraining member extending beyond the edge of the bottom
plate and over the second floor panel.
6. The oven of claim 5, wherein the first, second and third
constraining members are spaced apart to provide first and second
rolling pathways therebetween.
7. The oven of claim 2, wherein the door frame includes a first
door jamb, the threshold member including a first mount extending
upwardly from the bottom plate, the first mount being located
adjacent a first side of the first door jamb.
8. The oven of claim 7, wherein the threshold member includes a
bracket extending upwardly from the bottom plate, the bracket
located at a second side of the first door jamb, the second side
opposite the first side.
9. The oven of claim 8, wherein the bracket is secured to the first
door jamb.
10. The oven of claim 8, wherein the bottom plate is partially
located between a bottom of the first door jamb and building
floor.
11. The oven of claim 10 further comprising a sealant applied
between the bottom of the first door jamb and bottom plate.
12. The oven of claim 8, wherein the threshold member includes a
second mount extending upwardly from the bottom plate, the second
mount secured to a side of a second door jamb of the door
frame.
13. The oven of claim 1, wherein the threshold member is affixed to
a building floor.
14. The oven of claim 13, wherein the threshold member is affixed
to spaced apart jambs of the door frame.
15. The oven of claim 1 further comprising a sealant located in a
gap between the threshold member and the first and second floor
panels.
16. The oven of claim 1 further comprising a door connected to the
door frame wherein the threshold member is affixed to at least one
of the door frame and a building floor only at one or more
locations outside an internal side of a door footprint that is
formed with the door in a closed position.
17. The oven of claim 16, wherein the first floor panel and the
second floor panel are arranged to float relative to the building
floor.
18. An oven including a baking chamber, a door frame defining an
opening to the baking chamber and a door connected to the door
frame, the door resting in a threshold region when the door is in a
closed position, the oven comprising: a floor construction; and a
threshold member at least partially disposed in the threshold
region, the threshold member including a first upwardly extending
member adjacent a side of a first door jamb of the door frame and a
second upwardly extending member adjacent a side of a second door
jamb of the door frame, a spacing between the first upwardly
extending member and the second upwardly extending member set at a
distance for truing up the door frame.
19. The oven of claim 18, wherein the threshold member overlaps the
floor construction at a location in the baking chamber.
20. The oven of claim 19, wherein the threshold member is affixed
to a building floor only at a location outside the baking
chamber.
21. The oven of claim 19, wherein the threshold member is affixed
to the door frame at a location only outside the baking
chamber.
22. The oven of claim 19, wherein the threshold member comprises a
bottom plate and one or more constraining members that extend over
an edge of the bottom plate to overlap the floor construction.
23. The oven of claim 18, wherein the floor construction comprises
a first floor panel that overlaps a second floor panel.
24. A method of installing an oven at a baking site, the method
comprising: securing a first baking chamber floor panel in a baking
chamber of the oven; securing a second baking chamber floor panel
in the baking chamber of the oven; overlapping the first floor
panel with the second floor panel forming an overlap region; and
overlapping one or both of the first floor panel and the second
floor panel with a threshold member partially located at a
threshold region of the oven.
25. The method of claim 24 further comprising fastening the
threshold member to one or both of a building floor and a door
frame at a location in the threshold region.
26. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of fastening the
threshold member to one or both of a building floor and a door
frame includes fastening the threshold member to a first door jamb
located at a first side of an access opening to the baking chamber
and fastening the threshold member to a second door jamb located at
a second side of the access opening that is opposite the first side
of the access opening.
27. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of overlapping one or
both of the first floor panel and the second floor panel with the
threshold member includes overlapping one or both of the first
floor panel and the second floor panel with the threshold member at
more than one discrete overlap region.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates generally to convection ovens
used for baking items such as bread and, more particularly, to a
baking chamber floor construction for a convection oven such as a
rack oven.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Rack ovens are generally equipped with a fuel-fed heating
element and a fan for moving heated air throughout a baking chamber
to provide a rapid distribution of hot air over the food product.
Commercial ovens of this type include a baking chamber, which is
sized to receive a rack having multiple shelves containing products
to be baked; a power driven, rotating mechanism to rotate the
product as it is being cooked or baked; a heat exchanger including
one or more gas burners and an exhaust system to eliminate
combustion gases; and a circulating system for directing hot air
along a heated air flow path that passes through the baking
chamber. Conventional rack ovens of the type for baking bread also
generally include a steam generator for the introduction of steam
into the oven for brief periods of time, usually at the beginning
of the baking process, to impart a desired color and crispness to
the crust of the bread.
[0003] Typical rack ovens also commonly include baking chamber
floor constructions that include a non-insulated single floor panel
that is mounted to the floor on which the oven sits and/or is
rigidly, non-adjustably connected to the side walls of the oven.
During operation, these mounted floors may experience buckling due
to thermal expansion. This floor construction can also be used on
non-gas burning versions of ovens, such as electric versions.
SUMMARY
[0004] In an aspect, an oven installed at a baking site includes a
baking chamber defined by at least first and second walls, a door
frame at least in part defining an opening to the baking chamber
and a first baking chamber floor panel. A second baking chamber
floor panel partially overlaps a portion of the first floor panel
to form an overlap region between the first and second floor
panels. A threshold member is located at the opening and extends
between opposite sides of the door frame. The threshold member
overlaps an edge portion of at least one of the second floor panel
and the first floor panel.
[0005] In another aspect, an oven including a baking chamber, a
door frame at least in part defining an opening to the baking
chamber and a door connected to the door frame where the door rests
in a threshold region when the door is in a closed position is
provided. The oven includes a floor construction and a threshold
member at least partially disposed in the threshold region. The
threshold member includes a first upwardly extending member
adjacent a side of a first door jamb of the door frame and a second
upwardly extending member adjacent a side of a second door jamb of
the door frame. Spacing between the first upwardly extending member
and the second upwardly extending member is set at a distance for
truing up the door frame.
[0006] In another aspect, a method of installing an oven at a
baking site is provided. The method includes securing a first
baking chamber floor panel in a baking chamber of the oven. A
second baking chamber floor panel is secured in the baking chamber
of the oven such that it overlaps the first floor panel with the
second floor panel forming an overlap region. One or both of the
first floor panel and the second floor panel is overlapped by a
threshold member partially located at a threshold region of the
oven.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an embodiment of an oven;
[0008] FIG. 2 is front elevation of the oven of FIG. 1;
[0009] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a floor
assembly of the oven of FIG. 1;
[0010] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a floor
construction of FIG. 3;
[0011] FIG. 5 is a top view of the floor construction and threshold
member of FIG. 3;
[0012] FIGS. 5A and 5B are section views along the lines A-A and
B-B of FIG. 5, respectively;
[0013] FIGS. 6 and 7 show an embodiment of a floor panel of the
floor construction of FIG. 5;
[0014] FIGS. 8 and 9 show an embodiment of another panel of the
floor construction of FIG. 5;
[0015] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an installed floor
assembly;
[0016] FIG. 11 illustrates a method of installing the floor
assembly of FIG. 10;
[0017] FIG. 12 illustrates a method of locating the floor
construction of FIG. 10 in the oven of FIG. 1;
[0018] FIGS. 12A and 12B are partial cross-sections illustrating
connection of the floor panels to walls of the oven;
[0019] FIGS. 13A and 13B exemplify a PRIOR ART oven floor
construction; and
[0020] FIGS. 14A and 14B exemplify the floor assembly of FIG. 10 in
use.
DESCRIPTION
[0021] Referring to FIG. 1, a top plan view of an oven 10 is shown.
The oven 10 includes a baking chamber 12 defined by a plurality of
walls 14. Door 16 (shown only in part) provides access to the
baking chamber through opening 18 that is formed by door frame 20.
Door frame 20 can be formed as a separate member or series of
interconnected separate members and attached to front 22 or the
door frame (or at least a part of the door frame) may be formed by
front 22, itself, without any separate member attached thereto.
Door 16 rests in threshold region 24 with the door in its closed
position, for example, during a baking operation. The threshold
region 24 generally begins at an interior side 26 of a door
footprint 28 and ends at an exterior side 21 of the door footprint.
Footprint 28 is formed with door 16 in its closed position. A heat
exchanger 30 is located outside the baking chamber 12.
[0022] As shown by the arrows 32 in FIGS. 1 and 2, during a baking
procedure a fan or other blower 34 may be operated to cause heated
air to flow along an air flow path that extends upward through the
heat exchanger 30, over the top of the baking chamber 12, downward
through a corner channel 36, through a panel 38 into and through
the baking chamber 12, through a slot 40 or series of openings in
the left baking chamber wall 14 and back up through the heat
exchanger 30. A portion of the heated air also flows through a
corner located steam generator 42, with a panel 44 (having
apertures or slots) separating the steam generator 42 from the
baking chamber 12, and with wall 14 including an opening or
openings that extend along the height of the steam generator 42 to
provide the air into the heat exchanger 30. The steam generator 42
may take the form of a thermal mass, such as an iron mass that
collects heat, and an associated source of water that delivers
water onto the thermal mass, with heat of the thermal mass
converting the water to steam. The panel 44 may also be solid (no
apertures or slots) and mounted in a manner spaced from walls 14
and/or the floor to provide air flow slots. A front, left corner
panel 46 with one or more lights 48 positioned therein is also
shown in FIG. 1.
[0023] Also shown in FIG. 2 is a rotatable rack 50 within baking
chamber 12, the rack holding goods 53 to be baked. The oven 10
includes a lift and rotate mechanism (as known in the art) to lift
and rotate the rack. In some embodiments, the oven does not include
a rotate mechanism, i.e., the oven is a non-rotatable rack oven.
The rack 50 can be lowered and wheeled into and out of the baking
chamber 12 through the opening 18 in an access direction 52 (FIG.
1). The oven 10 may be a single integrated unit or may be formed by
modules connected together, such as a baking chamber module and a
heat exchanger module. Features of oven 10 are described in greater
detail in U.S. Pat. No. 6,837,234, filed Apr. 25, 2003, the content
of which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth
herein.
[0024] Referring now to FIG. 3, a floor construction 54 includes a
baking chamber floor panel 56 and a baking chamber floor panel 58.
Floor panel 56 overlaps floor panel 58 to form a seam 60 that
extends generally in the access direction 52. A threshold member 62
extends between opposite sides 64 and 66 of door frame 20.
Threshold member 62 constrains the floor construction 54 by
overlapping a portion thereof. The threshold member 62 is, in turn,
affixed to one or both of the building floor 68 and door frame 20
at a location adjacent the floor panels 56, 58 and outside the
internal side 26 of the door footprint 28. In some cases, the
threshold member 62 is affixed to one or both of the building floor
68 and frame 20 within the threshold region 24 (see FIG. 1). This
arrangement can eliminate any need for anchoring the floor panels
56, 58 directly to the building floor 68, for example, by passing a
fastener through an opening formed in the floor panels. A suitable
material for forming threshold member 62 includes stainless steel,
however, other materials may be used.
[0025] Referring to FIG. 4, a bottom portion 70 of the floor panel
56 partially overlaps a bottom portion 72 of the floor panel 58 as
shown along region 74. The floor panel 56 includes an offset bend
76 to achieve the overlap (see also FIGS. 5 and 5A). Other
alternatives for achieving the overlap are possible, such as
forming a recess in the floor panel 56 that is sized to receive the
floor panel 58. In one embodiment, the overlapping portions of the
two floor panels 56, 58 are not secured together, thus allowing
some relative movement between the two floor panel bottom portions.
The seam or overlap region 74 may be preferably placed in a center
portion of the baking chamber so as to provide floor panels of
approximately the same size, whereas if one floor panel were
laterally larger than the other floor panel, the larger floor panel
would tend to experience greater thermal expansion. Additionally,
central placement of the overlap region 74 can provide relatively
smooth rolling paths 170 and 172 extending front to back of the
oven 10. However, variations in size are possible.
[0026] As can be seen by FIG. 4, overlap region 74 is offset a
distance D from a front edge 75 and 77 of the floor panels 56 and
58, respectively. In other words, offset bend 76 does not extend
all the way to front edges 75 and 77.
[0027] Each floor panel 56 and 58 includes respective upturned
flanges 80 and 82 that may be provided by bending portions of the
floor panel. In this regard, the floor panels may be stainless
steel or some other suitable material. The flanges 80 and 82 may be
in the range of about 1 inch to 2 inches in height, although
variations are possible. Edges 75, 77 of respective floor panels 56
and 58 are provided without the upturned flange to facilitate
positioning of such portions along the doorway that provides access
to the oven baking chamber. In one embodiment, the edges 75 and 77
are positioned to or stop at the interior side of the door so as
not to interfere with the door or any gasket that may be associated
with the bottom surface of the door for sealing purposes.
[0028] Referring to FIG. 5, threshold member 62 and floor
construction 54 are shown in top view in isolation. Threshold
member 62 includes bottom plate 88 and upwardly extending end
mounts 90, 92 disposed at opposite ends of the bottom plate 88. A
bracket 94 is connected to the bottom plate 88 at a location
between the end mounts 90, 92. In some embodiments, bracket 94 with
an upwardly extending portion is formed as a separate member and
then attached to the bottom plate 88 while end mounts 90 and 92 are
formed by bending end regions of the bottom plate 88 upwardly.
Extending outwardly from the threshold member 62 and beyond an edge
96 of the threshold member are constraining members 98, 100 and
102. Constraining members 98, 100 and 102 overlap one or, in some
instances, both of the floor panels 56 and 58 and, as will be
described below, constrain the floor constuction 54 using one or
both of the building floor 68 or the frame 20 (FIG. 3). The
constraining members 98, 100, 102 can be formed separately from the
bottom plate 88 and attached thereto (e.g., by welding) or the
constraining members 98, 100, 102 can be formed with the bottom
plate 88 (e.g., by stamping and/or cutting).
[0029] As can be seen by FIG. 5, constraining members 98 and 100
overlap the floor panel 56 and the floor panel 58, respectively.
Referring also to FIG. 5B, constraining member 102 overlaps the
floor panel 58 with an end 104 near or, in some cases, even
abutting an end 106 of the offset bend 76. End 104 of the
constraining member 102 abuts end 106 of the offset bend 76 due to
the bend's offset distance D from front edge 75 and 77 of both
floor panels 56 and 58, respectively. Constraining member 102 may
also overlap the floor panel 56 and floor panel floor panel 58 at
respective sides of offset bend 76.
[0030] FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate a method of forming floor panel 56
including the offset bend 76 while FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a
method of forming the floor panel 58. Referring first to FIGS. 6
and 7, the floor panel 56 is cut out from a sheet of metal to
include bottom portion 70 and flange portions 80 prior to being
bent into their upward positions. Bend lines 108 are shown in
dashed form. Upward bend line 110 and downward bend line 112 are
also shown for forming the previously mentioned offset bend portion
76. FIG. 7 shows the floor panel 56 after the final bends have been
made. The seams 114 between adjacent flanges 80 can be welded or
otherwise sealed if desired.
[0031] FIG. 8 shows a top view of floor panel 58 prior to final
assembly, showing the floor panel 58 as cut out from a sheet of
metal and including bottom portion 72 and flange portions 82 prior
to being bent into their upward positions. Bend lines 116 are shown
in dashed form. FIG. 9 shows the floor panel 58 after the final
bends have been made. The seam 118 between adjacent flanges 82 can
be welded or otherwise sealed if desired.
[0032] Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, to assemble the floor
construction 54 and threshold member 62, the oven walls are first
installed and the structure is leveled using levelers (not shown).
In some instances, it may be necessary to insert shims (not shown)
under one or both of door jambs 120, 122 to level the oven 10. In
instances where a shim is to be placed under door jamb 122, it may
be preferable, but not always necessary, to install the shim after
threshold member 62 is in place. Using a sealing device and
sealant, a seal is formed along an inside perimeter (not shown) of
the walls 14 of the oven 10 between the oven and building floor 68
before installation of the floor construction 54. In some
instances, a seal is not formed along an inside perimeter of the
walls 14 between the oven 10 and the building floor 68.
[0033] Referring particularly to FIG. 11, the floor panel 58 is
secured within the oven 10. Once the floor panel 58 is secured, a
first bead 124 of sealant is run along edge 126 from front (i.e.,
nearer the door opening) to back (i.e., further from the door
opening) of the floor panel 58. A second bead 128 of sealant is run
parallel to the to the first bead 124 and spaced apart a distance d
therefrom. In some embodiments, d is between about 1/4 inch and
about 3/4 inch, such as about 1/2 inch. The floor panel 56 is
secured within the oven 10 such that the offset bend 76 overlaps
the floor panel 58 as described above and the floor panels are
tapped into the oven corners. A third bead 130 of sealant is run
along front edges 75 and 77 of the floor panels 56 and 58.
[0034] Referring still to FIGS. 10 and 11, to locate threshold
member 62, the bottom plate 88 is slipped under door jamb 122
between the door jamb 122 and the building floor 68 such that the
door jamb 122 is located between end mount 92 (FIG. 5) and bracket
94 (FIG. 10). In some embodiments, bottom plate 88 is designed such
that it is also slipped under door jamb 120. In some instances, it
may be necessary to raise the door jambs 120, 122 for added
clearance to allow bottom plate 88 to slide under the door jambs
120, 122. Once the bottom plate 88 is slid under the door jamb 122,
the constraining members 98, 100 and 102 are guided to overlap
portions of the associated floor panel 56 and floor panel 58 as
described above. In order to position the constraining members 98,
100 and 102, it may be necessary to use a wedge (not shown), for
example, a screwdriver, to guide the constraining members. The edge
96 of the threshold member bottom plate 88 may abut the front edges
75, 77 floor panels 56, 58 with the third bead 130 disposed
therebetween within a gap (e.g., of about 0.125 inch or less).
[0035] The threshold member 62 is pushed in the direction of arrow
131 so that end mount 90 abuts against the opening side of the door
jamb 120 and bracket 94 abuts against the interior side 66 of door
jamb 122. Thus, the spacing between end mounts 90 and 94 may be
preset to aid in squaring up or truing up the doorway opening.
Holes 132 are drilled and tapped in door jambs 120, 122 to securely
attach the end mount 90 and bracket 94 to the door frame. In some
embodiments, holes 132 are drilled prior to locating the threshold
member 62. In some instances, holes 132 are also tapped through end
mount 92 to secure the end mount 92 to door jamb 122. Fasteners
such as screws can be used to fasten the threshold member 62 to the
door jambs 120 and 122. Threshold member 62 is mounted to the
building floor 68 using openings 134 and, for example, fasteners
extending through openings 134 of the bottom plate 88. Once
threshold member 62 is secured to the building floor 68, the door
frame 20 will be held in a fairly stable position due to the
connection of the threshold member to the door jambs 120 and 122.
Any unsealed seams can be sealed using a sealant. A suitable
sealant is a high temperature RTV silicone, as an example.
[0036] The floor panels 56 and 58 can be secured within the oven by
any desirable method prior to locating the threshold member 62. In
one embodiment, as shown in the partial perspective view of an oven
baking chamber 12 in FIG. 12, the walls 14 defining the baking
chamber are provided with trim pieces 142, which in one embodiment
may be simple strips of stainless steel. As shown in the
cross-sectional views of FIGS. 12A and 12B where the floor panel 56
is considered, when the floor panels are positioned within the
chamber 12, the upwardly turned flanges 80 are positioned between
the trim pieces 142 and the oven walls 14. Threaded fasteners 144
extend from the trim pieces 142 to engage the walls 14 and can be
adjusted to secure the flanges 80 tightly therebetween and thus
hold the floor panel 56 in the desired position. A gasket 146 may
also be provided between the trim pieces 142 and the walls 14 to
engage the flanges 80 and provide a sealing function to the
arrangement. In the illustrated embodiment, the gasket is
positioned between the trim pieces 142 and the flanges 80.
[0037] The flanges 80 are not engaged by the fasteners 144 and
therefore can be adjusted upward or downward between the trim
pieces 142 and the walls 14 when the fasteners 144 are loosened.
This arrangement also enables the trim pieces 142 and associated
fasteners 144 to be pre-applied to the oven walls 14 prior to
delivery and set up. The illustrated adjustment zone may be in the
range of about 1/2 inch to 2 inches, but variations are possible.
This adjustment zone allows the floor panel 56 to be secured to the
oven walls 14 at different heights so that the entire bottom
portion 70 of the floor panel 56 can rest upon the oven site
floor/ground regardless of how level the oven site floor/ground
happens to be. If the oven is moved to a different site, adjustment
to suit the new oven site floor/ground conditions is facilitated by
simply loosening the fasteners 144, adjusting the floor panel 56 as
needed and then re-tightening the fasteners 144.
[0038] The multi-piece (2 or more floor panels) construction also
accommodates thermal expansion. Notably, FIGS. 13A and 13B
illustrate buckling that can occur with anchored floors having
anchor points 150. In particular, FIG. 13A illustrates two oven
floor panels when at ambient temperature and FIG. 13B illustrates
the buckling that can occur due to thermal expansion at elevated
oven temperatures. In contrast, FIGS. 14A and 14B illustrate the
accomodation of thermal expansion by the above described floor
assembly. In particular, FIG. 14A illustrates the relative position
of the floor panels 56, 58 at ambient temperature and FIG. 14B
illustrates the accomodation of thermal expansion that occurs in
the overlap region 74 of the panels at elevated oven
temperatures.
[0039] Threshold member 62 constrains the floor panels 56 and 58
from upward deformation using the constraining members 98, 100 and
102, each capturing and/or applying an associated force,
represented by arrows 152, 154 and 156, near the front of the floor
panels. The constraining members 98, 100 and 102 can maintain the
front of the floor panels 56, 58 in their initial, relatively flat
shapes by applying the forces 152, 154 and 156 in instances where
sections of the first and/or floor panels 56, 58 might buckle due
to heated operating conditions. Threshold member 62 can also
provide a relatively tight seal at the bottom of the oven door,
between the door jambs 120 and 122 (FIG. 10) and adjacent the floor
panels 56 and 58.
[0040] Threshold member 62 can provide additional advantages. For
example, the threshold member 62, due to its connection to the door
jambs 120 and 122, can provide added support for the door frame 20,
which can maintain the shape the door frame 20. As can best be seen
by FIGS. 5 and 5A, the threshold member 62 has a relatively flat
front edge 158 (FIG. 10) without any lip or other protrusion, which
can allow for easy insert and removal of a baking rack, for
example, by rolling the rack over the front edge 158 of the
threshold member. As also seen in FIG. 5, the constraining members
98, 102 and 100 may be spaced apart from each other to provide
relatively unobstructed rolling paths 170 and 172 therebetween, the
rolling paths located to encompass the location of rollers on the
bottom of the oven rack that is used to move product into and out
of the oven. In rolling path 170, the edge 96 of the bottom plate
abuts closely to front edge 75 of the floor panel 96 and in rolling
path 172, edge 96 abuts closely to front edge 77 of floor panel
54.
[0041] In some embodiments, the threshold member 62, floor panel 56
and floor panel 58 may be provided separately from the oven 10, for
example, as a kit to be retrofitted to a pre-assembled oven already
located at a baking location. Along with the threshold member 62
and the floor panels 56, 58, sealant, fasteners and any other
connections such as trim pieces 142 may be provided. This can allow
for assembly of the floor of the oven on site at the baking
location.
[0042] Although the invention has been described and illustrated in
detail it is to be clearly understood that the same is intended by
way of illustration and example only and is not intended to be
taken by way of limitation.
* * * * *